Our collaborative offer
AWP’s core offer to International Partners will be centred on the sharing of Australia’s experiences in reforming water policy, management and use. This has been a three decade long journey, undertaken in response to prior periods of over-allocation, an increasingly variable and drying climate, the needs of rapidly-growing cities, declining source and receiving water quality, and growing water scarcity.
Where requested, the AWP will contribute to the integrated planning and allocation of available water resources, improving water supply and water use efficiency, and the management of water quality and ecological condition – all of which are key constraints to sustainable livelihoods and economic development.
It will help build institutional and technical capacity for water governance and management across the region. Improved policies, institutions, legal frameworks and tools will enable water managers to better deal with competing demands for surface waters, build resilience for climate extremes, reduce the unsustainable use of groundwater, and better manage pollution and protect aquatic ecosystems. In each of these areas, the Australian public and private sector can offer collaborative skills, experience and technology.
The AWP will encourage the sharing of knowledge and capability, dealing with complexity, trade-offs and opportunities in connected water systems in a holistic manner, across four core water reform themes:
Understanding the water resource base
– with integrated assessment of water availability and quality, catchment condition and ecosystem health.
River basin planning & water allocations framework
– including building resilience for climatic extremes.
Governance reforms & institutional strengthening
– including robust water entitlements and allocation frameworks.
Managing demand & improving efficiency
– including use by ecosystems.
The AWP will also seek to build economic, environmental and societal value across four water use domains:
- Water-sensitive cities
- Modern irrigation systems
- Environmental water quantity and quality
- Catchments and river basins.
Channels for assistance
Country partnerships
Direct engagement with priority partner countries, brokered through DFAT overseas missions and programs or under bilateral MoUs. Proposals for AWP activities and funding support will be developed collaboratively by AWP, DFAT and country partners.
Development partnerships
Strategic country and regional engagements brokered through the World Bank, Asian Development Bank or UN organisations. An open and simple means of submitting proposals (in priority countries) and accessing Australian experts and teams will be implemented, on a funded or co-investment basis.
Assisted access
Introductory assistance to countries or organisations, with support beyond initial exchanges or referrals to Australian partner expertise being limited or on a fee for service basis.
Knowledge networking and exchange
Strategic AWP activities focussed on building and sharing Australian and regional water reform experiences and knowledge. Supported activities may include study tours, workshops, training courses, web-based learning, and staff exchanges.